This year marks the 90th anniversary of Social Security, which has helped generations of Connecticut residents stay out of poverty and retire with dignity after a lifetime of hard work. It’s one of the most successful initiatives in American history, and a recent AARP survey showed it’s still doing exactly what it was built to do.

The AARP report, released in conjunction with the anniversary, confirms that Americans highly value Social Security, even more so than five years ago. The vast majority of Americans – 95 percent of Republicans, 98 percent of Democrats, and 93 percent of Independents – consider Social Security vital to the financial security of all Americans, and 67 percent believe it is even more important for retirees than it was five years ago.

Social Security is a vital lifeline for tens of millions of Americans everywhere. Nearly two in three retired Americans say they rely substantially on Social Security, while another 21 percent say they rely on it somewhat. In 2020, 63 percent of retired Americans said they relied substantially on Social Security, jumping from 58 percent in both 2015 and 2010.

In Connecticut, nearly 722,000 people count on the Social Security they’ve earned to be there when they need it. Thirty-five percent of Connecticut residents rely on Social Security for at least 50 percent of their income, and for 16 percent, it represents 90 percent of their income. It’s also an economic driver, contributing $16.4 billion annually to the Connecticut economy.  

For many, it can mean the difference between getting by and going without groceries, gas and paying utility bills. Simply put, it allows family members to rest easier knowing their parents have some financial relief and protection as they age. 

AARP’s survey found that Social Security is a key source of income and economic stability in retirement, but Americans have concerns about whether it will be enough. More than three-quarters of Americans (78 percent) are worried that Social Security will not provide enough to live on during retirement.

Nearly 90 percent of people surveyed agree that Social Security is more than a reliable retirement income strategy; it’s the key to remaining independent as you age. And at AARP, independence and the power to choose how to live as you age is the core of our mission. That’s why we launched a national campaign at the start of the summer — “Social Security: We Earned It”— with events across the country and here in Connecticut to urge action and celebrate the milestone anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt signing the Social Security Act on August 14, 1935.

We’re calling on leaders from both parties in Congress to protect the integrity of Social Security for current and future generations. This includes closing the solvency gap and ensuring adequate customer service so people can access their earned Social Security. Now more than ever, we need our political leaders to speak out to celebrate Social Security and ensure it’s there, not only for older Americans today but also for our kids and grandkids tomorrow.

Social Security is not a handout — it’s a promise we’ve built together and a lifetime of hard work. And we will never stop fighting to keep that promise for all Americans. Join people from around the county in the pledge to fight for Social Security at AARP.org/WeEarnedIt.